Waltham schools seek six percent budget increase for 2019

Melissa Russell mrussell@wickedlocal.com @WalthamNewsTrib

Tuesday

Apr 3, 2018 at 3:40 PMApr 3, 2018 at 3:40 PM

Budget planning for next year has begun for all city departments, and the 2019 recommended school budget requests funds for heightened security, professional development and resources for a rapidly-growing English language learners population.

Largely in response to a continued rise in enrollment, the school administration is requesting a six percent increase over last year, for a total of $88,280,085. The lion’s share of the increase will pay for contractually obligated costs, Echelson said.

At $20,673, Waltham’s per-pupil cost is at the higher end of schools in the commonwealth, but that reflects the needs of the city’s demographics, according to Leanne Wilcinski, school business administrator.

The school department will present the budget in a public hearing on Wednesday, April 4.

Enrollment is main budget driver

Over the last five years, Waltham schools have seen a 9.7 percent increase in enrollment from kindergarten through 12th grade, exceeding the projections from the New England School Development Council, which had been engaged in 2012. Enrollments are projected to continue to rise over the next 10 years.

ELL students

The fastest growing school population is English language learners. According to Echelson, in the 2012-13 school year, the district had 630 ELL students across kindergarten through fifth grade. This year, ELL enrollment is 1,187 across the entire grade scale, and is the fastest growing subgroup in Waltham, Echelson said.

Dual language program

The budget requests funds for the expansion of the dual language program, which launched in 2016 with two kindergarten classes, and added two first grade classes last fall. The administration is seeking to add two second grade classrooms, full-time maintenance support and its first principal.

Personnel

In order to recruit high-quality teachers and staff, the administration is proposing to reorganize the human resources department by bringing the human resource administrator to full time, adding an administrative support position and adding a .6 FTE project and enrollment planner. Rate increases for lunch and recess monitors, clerical substitutes, substitute school nurses, food service staff and summer student workers are included in the budget.

Security

In response to last fall’s repeated bomb threats, and on the recommendation of the Waltham Police Department, the district is requesting $192,162 for front door security staff at all buildings. Additionally, funds for a school resource officer at every elementary school are being requested. Currently, there are SROs at the high school and both middle schools, with one officer working among all of the elementary schools, Echelson said.

Other budget increase requests

$45,000 for staff professional development due to reduced grant funding.$56,932 for pending in-district special education transportation contract renewal.$31,140 for additional dual language program transportation due to program expansion.$22,840 for instructional software, textbooks and supplies for elementary math curriculum materials.$15,000 increase for translation and interpretation services.$838,328 increase to special education out-of-district budget.

The administration is also seeking funds to expand the middle school athletic program and beginner level instruments for fine and performing arts.

Unusual expenditures

The administration is asking for an increase of $27,750 for collective bargaining-related legal services, as collective bargaining agreements will expire at the end of fiscal year 2019.